Androgen deprivation therapy can effectively suppress the progression of prostate cancer, but accumulating evidence for the relationship of testosterone with prostate cancer challenges the conventional wisdom. High levels of testosterone are not risk factors for prostate cancer, nor promote its development. On the contrary, a low testosterone level indicates a worse pathological stage. So far there has been no strong evidence to prove the role of testosterone in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer. Therefore, the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer is quite complicated and deserves further investigation.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Testosterone

Fifteen cassaen-type diterpenes were isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract of the seeds of C. minax through various chromatographic techniques. Their structures were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as pulcherralpin (1), caesalpinin ML (2), chamaetexane C (3), chamaetexane D (4), 6β, 18-diacetoxycassan-13, 15-diene (5), neocaesalpin K (6), neocaesalpin MP (7), neocaesalpin M (8), neocaesalpin Q (9), neocaesalpin P (10), neocaesalpin R (11), caesaldekarin D (12), caesaldekarin A (13), caesaldekarin b (14), 3β,6α-diacetoxyvouacapane (15). Among them, compounds 14, 9-11 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Caesalpinia ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

BACKGROUNDThalidomide is reviving for its antiangiogenic effect on corneal neovascularization models. Recently, it has been employed in tumor research in several types of solid carcinomas. However, its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been clarified.

METHODSA total of 48 nude mice bearing human HCC with a high metastatic potential were randomly divided into 4 groups. Thalidomide (200 mg/kg), paclitaxel (13 mg/kg), or their combination, which was dissolved in 0.5% sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) suspension, was intraperitoneally injected in each group since the second day of the establishment of animal model. The group simply administered with 0.5% CMC was set as placebo-control. The mice were sacrificed on the 30th day, for the measurement of tumor size, weight and metastasis in the lungs. The levels of CD34 and endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR, respectively, and microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated.

RESULTSNo statistical difference was found in tumor weight and volume between the thalidomide group and control (P>0.05). Paclitaxel showed a growth-inhibiting effect on tumors (P<0.05). The value of MVD and VEGF mRNA and metastases to the lungs in each group were lower than those in the placebo-control group (P<0.05); such difference in the combination group was statistically significant (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPaclitaxel, but not thalidomide, has significant growth inhibitory effect on tumors, but both significantly inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis of human HCC in nude mice, such effects of paclitaxel can be amplified by thalidomide.

Animals ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; drug therapy ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation, Heterologous

The experiment's aim was to optimize the processing technology of Xanthii Fructus which through comparing the difference of UPLC fingerprint and contents of toxicity ingredient in water extract of 16 batches of processed sample. The determination condition of UPLC chromatographic and contents of toxicity ingredient were as follows. UPLC chromatographic: ACQUITY BEH C18 column (2.1 mm x 100 mm, 1.7 microm) eluted with the mobile phases of acetonitrile and 0.1% phosphoric acidwater in gradient mode, the flow rate was 0.25 mL x min(-1) and the detection wavelength was set at 327 nm. Contents of toxicity ingredient: Agilent TC-C18 column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm), mobile phase was methanol-0.01 mol x L(-1) sodium dihydrogen phosphate (35: 65), flow rate was 1.0 mL x min(-1), and detection wavelength was 203 nm. The chromatographic fingerprints 16 batches of samples were analyzed in using the similarity evaluation system of chromatographic, fingerprint of traditional Chinese medicine, SPSS16.0 and SIMCA13.0 software, respectively. The similarity degrees of the 16 batches samples were more than 0.97, all the samples were classified into four categories, and the PCA showed that the peak area of chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and caffeic acid were significantly effect index in fingerprint of processed Xanthii Fructus sample. The outcome of determination showed that the toxicity ingredient contents of all samples reduced significantly after processing. This method can be used in optimizing the processing technology of Xanthii Fructus.
Caffeic Acids ; analysis ; toxicity ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; toxicity ; Quinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; toxicity ; Xanthium ; chemistry ; classification

Three-way laryngeal mask airway (tLMA) was used in 31 patients aged 4-68 yr, weighing 10- 79 kg undergoing tracheal foreign body removal under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol 3 mg/kg, vecuronium 0.12 mg/kg and remifentanil 0.4 μg/kg. tLMA was inserted. The patients were mechanically ventilated. Anesthesia was maintained with iv infusion of propofol 2 mg . Kg-1 ? H-1, vecuronium 0.08 mg·kg-1·h-1 and remifentanil 0.15 μg·kg-1 ·min-1 . Radial artery was cannulated for BP monitoring and blood sampling. The operation time was 6-34 min and mechanical ventilation time 19-45 min. There was no significant change in SP, DP, HR, VT, Ppeak and Ppeak CO, during operation as compared with the baseline values before anesthesia. SpO2 was significantly increased at T2-6. PCO2, PO2 and O2sat were obviously improved after tLMA was used. All the patients emerged bom anesthesia within 30 min after operation. No aspiration, obvious gastrointestinal inflation, and pharyngeal and laryngeal edema and injury occurred. Mild agitation occurred in a short time during the recovery period in one patient. No complication occurred.

Background Thalidomide is reviving for its antiangiogenic effect on corneal neovascularization models. Recently, it has been employed in tumor research in several types of solid carcinomas. However, its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been clarified. Methods A total of 48 nude mice bearing human HCC with a high metastatic potential were randomly divided into 4 groups. Thalidomide (200 mg/kg), paclitaxel (13 mg/kg), or their combination, which was dissolved in 0.5% sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) suspension, was intraperitoneally injected in each group since the second day of the establishment of animal model. The group simply administered with 0.5% CMC was set as placebo-control. The mice were sacrificed on the 30th day, for the measurement of tumor size, weight and metastasis in the lungs. The levels of CD34 and endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR, respectively, and microvessel density (MVD) was evaluated. Results No statistical difference was found in tumor weight and volume between the thalidomide group and control (P>0.05). Paclitaxel showed a growth-inhibiting effect on tumors (P<0.05). The value of MVD and VEGF mRNA and metastases to the lungs in each group were lower than those in the placebo-control group (P<0.05); such difference in the combination group was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Paclitaxel, but not thalidomide, has significant growth inhibitory effect on tumors, but both significantly inhibit angiogenesis and metastasis of human HCC in nude mice, such effects of paclitaxel can be amplified by thalidomide.

Objective: To explore the prevalence and risk factors of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in elderly hypertension patients. Methods: A total of 532 retired hypertension patients elder than 65 years in Guangzhou military region were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Hypertension group, n=414 and Hypertension combining OH (H+OH) group, n=118. The patient's age (65-79、≥ 80), hypertension grade (Grade 1-3) and complication status were studied. The risk factors for H+OH prevalence were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Results: The incidence rate of H+OH was 22.2％ (118/532). In H+OH group, the ratios of elderly and very elderly patients were 6.7％ and 23.1％, P<0.05 and the ratios of OH occurrence for hypertension grade 1, 2 and 3 were 12.6％, 23.3％ and 25.2％ respectively, P<0.05. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis presented that systolic blood pressure (BP) in supine position, BP at immediate standing, heart rate in supine position, heart rate after 2 minutes standing and chronic cardiac insufficiency were the impact factors for H+OH occurrence, P<0.05. Conclusion: In elderly hypertension patients, incidence of OH was increasing with age elevating; H+OH has been related to age, severity of hypertension and chronic cardiac insufficiency.

OBJECTIVETo compare the application of HE and enzyme histochemical staining in assessing the viability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells coagulated by microwave ablation at different temperatures.

METHODSTwo groups of mice (n=6) with transplanted homogenic HCC were treated by microwave ablation at 60 degrees C and 50 degrees C for 3 min, respectively. Before and after microwave ablation, paraffin sections and frozen sections of the tumors were prepared for routine HE staining and enzyme histochemical staining with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide diaphorase (NADH-diaphorase), respectively, and observed under microscope.

RESULTSShortly after microwave ablation, the morphology and arrangements of the nucleus of the ablated tumor cells in the two groups showed no obvious alteration in HE stained sections, but in sections with enzyme histochemical staining, the activity of NADH-diaphorase in ablated tumor tissue at 60 degrees C disappeared, suggesting the death of HCC cells; sporadic activity of the enzyme was detected in the coagulated tumor at 50 degrees C, indicating tumor cells surviving the ablation. The ablation effect was markedly different between the two groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONHE staining is not suitable for evaluation of HCC destruction immediately after microwave ablation, and detection of NADH-diaphorase activity with the enzyme histochemical method better suits this purpose.

Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; methods ; Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Female ; Histocytochemistry ; methods ; Liver Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microwaves ; therapeutic use ; Temperature

Different remote sensing monitoring methods are needed for the medicinal plant resource in different types of ecological environment. This paper explained remote sensing monitoring methods for the resource of the wild medicinal plants and cultivated plants, and analyzed the rare species, generous species and species in special ecological environment in detail. It provides a new method to all kind of medicinal plants resources' remote sensing monitoring.
Atractylodes ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Ecosystem ; Geographic Information Systems ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Plants, Medicinal ; Satellite Communications

BACKGROUNDImprovement of clinical symptoms following hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders arising from traumatic brain injury was proved by our previous study. This study was aim to obtain the evidence of other changes.

METHODSThree hundred and ten patients with neuropsychiatric disorders arising from traumatic brain injury were treated twice with hyperbaric oxygen. Cerebral single photon emissions computed tomography (SPECT) images and computed tomography scans (CT) before and after hyperbaric oxygen treatment, were compared.

RESULTSBefore treatment, the proportion of abnormal cerebral changes detected by SPECT was 81.3% but only 15.2% by CT. After HBO treatment, 70.3% of SPECT scans showed no abnormalities and these patients were clinically improved. Treatment improved regional cerebral blood flow.

CONCLUSIONSPECT was much more sensitive than CT in the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders following hyperbaric oxygen treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders arising from traumatic brain injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Nervous System Diseases ; diagnosis ; therapy